Regional Aviation Baseline Study

PSRC is leading a baseline study to provide a clear picture of the aviation activities and needs in the region and set the stage for future planning efforts.

Paine Field, Snohomish County

Aviation plays a critical role for people and businesses in the growing central Puget Sound region, which is currently home to 28 airports of varied sizes and functions. Along with the region’s population and job growth, air passenger traffic and cargo volumes have reached record levels and are expected to increase.

Continued, coordinated planning is essential for ensuring that the regional airport system can support existing and future demand. As part of these efforts, the Puget Sound Regional Council has launched the Regional Aviation Baseline Study, funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Study Overview

What is the purpose of this study?

This two-year study is intended to provide a clear picture of the region’s aviation system (King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties) and form the technical foundation for future decisions by regional and state leaders.

The objectives of the Regional Aviation Baseline Study are to:

Identify the roles of each airport and the aviation activities within the region.

Provide a regional perspective on how aviation activities at airports in the study area interact with each other, the community and the broader economy.

Obtain input from stakeholders about their needs and build a common understanding about aviation and airspace constraints.

Identify future aviation needs within the central Puget Sound region and set the stage for future planning.

What will the study cover?

Existing conditions and recent trends in aviation, including the roles of each airport and the aviation activities within the study area.

Economic contributions of regional aviation sectors and the factors that affect different market sectors.

A conceptual level of analysis of primary airspace flows and relevant airspace constraints. It will analyze whether the current airspace system can deliver future demand scenarios.

Relationships and dependences between airports within the region and with the National Airport System.

Landside access to the region’s airports and adequacy to meet future demand.

Community perspectives, concerns, issues and impacts gathered through a robust stakeholder engagement process.

How does this study differ from master planning or siting studies?

An airport master plan is a comprehensive study of an airport and usually describes the short-, medium-, and long-term development plans to meet future aviation demand. Sometimes an existing airport cannot be expanded to meet the future demand and a new or supplemental airport is required. In these cases, a new airport site may be selected as part of an airport’s planning process or as identified through a siting study.

The Regional Aviation Baseline Study will build on master planning processes underway at many of the region’s airports. The study will provide empirical data and describe potential scenarios to accommodate future demand, but it is not a siting study and will not offer recommendations or solutions. The study is intended to provide a comprehensive view of the regional aviation system and inform follow-up actions by policymakers.

What is the timeline?

The project team is completing this study in three major phases, ending with a final report summarizing key study findings.